[230712.EN.SEA] Evergreen's Chang Awarded Japan's 0rder of Rising Sun For Help In Quake

EVERGREEN chairman Yung-Fa Chang has been honoured with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star at an award ceremony held at the Tokyo Imperial Palace.

The medal was granted in recognition of Dr Chang's assistance in the reconstruction of Japan following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated much of the country.

The Japanese government also honoured Dr Chang for his achievements in improving the international transport industry and thus enhancing development of Japan's economy and to developing a "superior" relationship between Japan and Taiwan, said the Evergreen statement.

The award was presented by Japanese Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko. Immediately after the ceremony, Dr Chang was granted an audience with Emperor Akihito of Japan, making him one of the few foreigner entrepreneurs to receive such an honour.

Immediately after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Dr Chang instructed the Evergreen Shipping Agency (Japan) to donate JPY1 billion (US$12.5 million) in his name to the Japanese Red Cross to support the post-earthquake reconstruction. At the same time, Dr Chang directed both EVA Air and Evergreen Marine Corporation of the Evergreen Group to provide emergency aid plus free air transport and shipping services to carry relief supplies to Japan.

In recent years Dr Chang has been awarded several honours in Taiwan and abroad attributed to his remarkable achievement in global transport and his contribution to social welfare.

Together with the Order of the Rising Sun, Dr Chang has received 13 medals of honour to date, the most recent of which are: Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau, the Netherlands Officer of the Legion of Honour, France in 2011; Commander of Order of the Crown, Belgium in 2008; and Knight of the Grand Cross, Italy in 2007.

Source : HKSG.